bugle

¹ American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. a brass wind instrument resembling a cornet and sometimes having keys or valves, used typically for sounding military signals.

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verb (used without object)

bugled, bugling

1. to sound a bugle.

2. (of bull elks) to utter a rutting call.

verb (used with object)

bugled, bugling

1. to call by or with a bugle.

   to bugle reveille.

bugle ² American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. ajuga.

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bugle ³ American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. Also called bugle bead.  a tubular glass bead used for ornamenting dresses.

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adjective

1. Also bugled ornamented with bugles.

bugle ¹ British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. music a brass instrument similar to the cornet but usually without valves: used for military fanfares, signal calls, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to play or sound (on) a bugle

bugle ² British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. Also called: bugleweed.  any of several Eurasian plants of the genus Ajuga , esp A. reptans , having small blue or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates) See also ground pine

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bugle ³ British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. a tubular glass or plastic bead sewn onto clothes for decoration

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Other Word Forms

• bugler noun

Etymology

Origin of bugle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bugle, bugel, bewgal “wild ox, buffalo, water buffalo, drinking horn, (instrument) horn, bugle,” from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin būculus “young bull, bullock, young ox,” equivalent to bū- variant stem of bōs “cow, ox, bull” + -culus diminutive noun suffix; -cle ¹, cow ¹

Origin of bugle²

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English bugle, bugil, buygel, bewgle, from Old French, from Late Latin būgillo the name of the plant; further origin uncertain

Origin of bugle³

First recorded in 1570–80; of obscure origin; perhaps an extended sense of bugle ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A bugle is a very simple brass instrument. Bugles are commonly used in the military to mark parts of the day, including first thing in the morning. Bugles are notable for their lack of valves — instead of controlling pitch with the fingers, a bugler does it entirely with her lips on the mouthpiece. The traditional bugle call is the series of notes used in military camps to signal daybreak and dusk, and sometimes other daily routines. Bugle was originally an Old French word meaning "musical horn," but also "wild ox" or "buffalo." The "horn" meaning came from the curled shape of an animal's horn.

Example Sentences

City Hall, which dates to the 16th century, toots out a cheerful jazz bugle call several times a day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Morris held the microphone with both hands like he was blowing on a bugle and urging the crowd to charge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

"Eventually the bugle stopped blowing and he was never seen again," Dr Waterman adds.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

Each week, we listened to marching bands play the national anthem but heard the bugle call of “Taps.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2023

“That was a secret bugle call that only admirals are allowed to hear.”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger